Access protection from unauthorized use of memory medium with storage of identifier unique to memory medium in data storage device

Abstract

It is provided a data storage device which reads data from and/or writes data to a memory medium, comprising: a storage unit for storing a first identifier; an identifier acquisition unit for acquiring a second identifier recorded on a memory medium which is set to said data storage device; and a controller for comparing said first identifier with said second identifier, and controlling to access to said memory medium for data reading and/or writing according to a relationship between said first identifier and said second identifier. For example, when the first identifier does not match the second identifier, the controller inhibits access to the memory medium for the reading and writing of data. But when the first and the second identifiers match, the controller permits access to the memory medium for the reading and writing of data. Since the storage device having an identifier which differs from the identifier recorded on the memory medium inhibits access to the memory medium for the reading and writing of data, the secrecy of data recorded on the memory medium is ensured.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A data storage device which reads data from and/or writes data to a memory medium, comprising: 
       a storage unit for storing a first identifier previously recorded by said storage device itself;  
       an identifier acquisition unit for acquiring a second identifier in a first area of said memory medium, said second identifier identifying said memory medium as a unique medium, said memory medium being set to said data storage device; and  
       a controller for comparing said first identifier with said second identifier, and controlling to access to a second area of said memory medium for data reading and/or writing according to a relationship between said first identifier and said second identifier,  
       wherein said data storage device reads said second identifier directly from the first area of said memory medium and records said second identifier to said storage unit as said first identifier.  
     
     
       2. The data storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second identifiers are serial numbers of the memory medium. 
     
     
       3. The data storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller permits or inhibits the reading of data and/or the writing of data in accordance with a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier. 
     
     
       4. The data storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein said memory medium includes read address information to be used to control data reading, and said controller permits or inhibits the reading of data in accordance with said read address information and a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier. 
     
     
       5. The data storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein said memory medium includes write address information to be used to control data writing, and said controller permits or inhibits the writing of data in accordance with said write address information and a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier. 
     
     
       6. A data storage device which reads data from and/or writes data to a memory medium by designating first address information, comprising: 
       a storage unit for storing a first identifier previously recorded by said storage device itself;  
       an identifier acquisition unit for acquiring a second identifier in a first area of said memory medium, said second identifier identifying said memory medium as a unique medium, said memory medium being set to said data storage device;  
       an address information acquisition unit for acquiring second address information recorded in said memory medium; and  
       a controller for comparing said first identifier with said second identifier and said first address information with said second address information, and controlling to access to said memory medium for data reading and/or writing according to a second area of a relationship between said first identifier and said second identifier and a relationship between said first address information and said second address information,  
       wherein said data storage device reads said second identifier directly from the first area of said memory medium and records said second identifier to said storage unit as said first identifier.  
     
     
       7. The data storage device according to  claim 6 , wherein said memory medium includes read address information to be used to control data reading, and said controller permits or inhibits the reading of data in accordance with said read address information, 
       a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier and a result obtained by the comparison of said first address information and said second address information.  
     
     
       8. The data storage device according to  claim 6 , wherein said memory medium includes write address information to be used to control data writing, and said controller permits or inhibits the writing of data in accordance with said write address information, a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier and a result obtained by the comparison of said first address information and said second address information. 
     
     
       9. The data storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein said memory medium includes a password, and said controller permits or inhibits the reading of data and/or the writing of data in accordance with determination of said password and a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier. 
     
     
       10. The data storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein said memory medium is on e of writable memory media as a magnetic disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a phase change optical disk. 
     
     
       11. A method for controlling a data storage device which reads data from and/or writes data to a memory medium, comprising the steps of: 
       acquiring a first identifier stored in said data storage device, said first identifier being previously recorded by said data storage device;  
       acquiring a first identifier on a first area of said memory medium, said second identifier identifying said memory medium as a unique medium, said memory medium being set to said data storage device;  
       comparing said first identifier with said second identifier; and  
       controlling to access to a second area of said memory medium for reading of data and/or writing of data according to a relationship between said first identifier and said second identifier;  
       wherein said data storage device reads said second identifier directly from the first area of said memory medium and records said second identifier to said storage unit as said first identifier.  
     
     
       12. The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein said memory medium includes read address information to be used to control data reading, and in said step of controlling, the reading of data is permitted or inhibited in accordance with said read address information and a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier. 
     
     
       13. The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein said memory medium includes write address information to be used to control data writing, and in said step of controlling, the writing of data is permitted or inhibited in accordance with said write address information and a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier. 
     
     
       14. The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein said memory medium includes a password, and in said step of controlling, the reading of data and/or the writing of data is permitted or inhibited in accordance with determination of said password and a result obtained by the comparison of said first identifier and said second identifier. 
     
     
       15. The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein said memory medium is one of writable memory media as a magnetic disk, a floppy disk, an